Always in the midst of a controversy, Rihanna's personal life is getting far more attention than her music lately. And the latest to have made headlines is the singer's date with a longtime friend, who in fact happened to be a woman.

The RnB superstar was snapped with best friend Melissa Forde Thursday night, with the pair putting up an affectionate display of holding hands as they left the Giorgio Baldi restaurant in Santa Monica, California. Rihanna, who was seen sporting a white shirt dress with suspender tights, and her gal pal were said to be on their way to The Roxbury Nightclub in Hollywood, the Daily Mail said.

Always the one to let fans into the going-ons in her life, Rihanna posted a picture of herself with Forde on Twitter, with a caption that read: #datenight my lover for the night @mforde11. The Barbadian star even tweeted that she was on her first date in almost 2 yearz.

Whatever that meant may have had Rihanna's fans guessing, especially with the spurious reports of her seeing ex-lover Chris Brown and the endless speculation of her hook-up with Ashton Kutcher.

Radar Online says that there has been speculation that Rihanna and Forde are more than just friends. Forde is said to have sported a matching tattoo as Rihanna's never a failure, always a lesson.

Riri dropped several hints of the pair's romantic link-up in the past. Last New Year's Eve, Riri posted a tweet that read, Fyi, we gotta find me somebody to kiss @ midnight by next NYE!!!! Melissa didn't cut it for me lastnt.

This isn't the first time Rihanna was speculated to have switched teams. In 2009, photos of the Battleship star groping a female pal suggested that the Battleship' star was a closet bisexual. However, the singer reportedly scoffed at the rumors, and admitted that she just appreciates the female form, the Huffington Post said.